Team Canada Reunites in Toronto for Invictus Games Training Camp

TORONTO, March 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Members of Team Canada competing in the upcoming 2016 Invictus Games have reunited in Toronto, Ontario for their second training camp. Competitors will push their bodies and minds in preparation for the fast-approaching 2016 Invictus Games, to be held in Orlando, Florida from May 8 to 12 (information on media accreditation for the 2016 Games available below).

The training camp is being held from March 18 to 23 at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, a state-of-the-art sports facility built for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. Team Canada competitors will train for 7 adaptive sport events, including archery, indoor rowing, powerlifting, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball.

What:

Photo opportunity with members of the Team Canada 2016. In addition, 5members of the team will be available for brief interviews (bios included below).

Who:

28 members of Invictus Games Team Canada: All competitors are active dutyand veteran service members from the Canadian Armed Forces who have become ill or injured during or as a direct consequence of their service.

When:

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

1:00 p.m. – Media arrival and set up

1:15 p.m. – Team Canada group photo op

1:30 p.m. – Media will have access to a pre-selected group of competitors for interviews

1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. -- Media will have 45 minutes to capture footage of competitors 'in action' during their sport-specific training

Founded by Prince Harry in 2014, the Invictus Games are the only international adaptive sporting event for wounded, injured and ill active duty and veteran service members. These Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate broader awareness of the physical and psychological injuries sustained by our wounded warriors.

Prince Harry recently announced that the 2017 Invictus Games have been awarded to Toronto, Canada. The third Invictus Games, to be held in September 2017, will be the largest Games yet, with more than 600 military competitors from 16 nations competing in 12 sports.

Bruno Guévremont (EN/FR): Team Canada Captain. Served 15 years with the Royal Canadian Navy. After two tours in Afghanistan and one in Southeast Asia, the difficult realities of military service took its toll, and Bruno was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Bruno will be competing in the indoor rowing competition. Mr. Guévremont's hometown is Victoria, British Columbia.

Natacha Dupuis (EN/FR): Retired Master Corporal Natacha Dupuis served 16 years with the Canadian Army and took part in several military missions, including one in Bosnia and two in Afghanistan. After her last mission, she was diagnosed with PTSD. Natacha turned to sport and physical activity to help cope with her illness and she will be competing in powerlifting as well as other competitions. Ms. Dupuis lives in Chelsea, Québec.

Simon Mailloux (EN/FR): CaptainSimon Mailloux is serving with the Canadian Army. During a mission in Afghanistan in 2007, Simon was injured after an IED amputated his left leg at the knee. Despite this, Simon turned to adaptive sports and learned to run, cycle and precision shoot with his prosthetic leg. He will be competing in track and field and other competitions. Capt Mailloux's hometown is Québec City, Québec.

Mark Hoogendoorn (EN): Master Corporal Mark Hoogendoornis serving with the Canadian Army. Mark lost his leg after stepping on an IED while on tour in Afghanistan. Since then, Mark has learned how to snowboard, rock climb, run and golf as part of his recovery process. He will be competing in powerlifting and other competitions. MCpl Hoogendoorn's hometown is Grimsby, Ontario.

Christine Gauthier (EN/FR): Retired Corporal Christine Gauthierserved with the Canadian Army. She sustained injury to her both her knees and spine in 1989 during a training accident. In 2008, Christine discovered kayaking and today, she is a five-time world champion representing Canada as a member of the national paracanoe team. Christine is also a Rio 2016 Paralympian hopeful. In Orlando, she will be competing in powerlifting and other competitions. Ms. Gauthier's hometown is Montréal, Québec.

Media Accreditation for the Invictus Games Orlando 2016:

The next Invictus Games will be held from May 8 to May 12, 2016 at the ESPN Wide World Sports Complex, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida. Media accreditation applications are currently available and can be accessed on the Orlando 2016 website.Deadline to apply is April 8, 2016.